Device for wrapping a connecting band around axially aligned rod-shaped articles



J1me 1963 w RUDSZINAT ETAL 3,093,143

DEVICE FOR WNAPPING A CONNECTING BAND AROUND AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Filed Feb. 1, 1961 United States Patent DEVICE FOR WRAPPING A CONNECTING BAND AROUND AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES Willy Rudszinat, Hamburg-Lohbrngge, and Herbert Berlin, Hamburg, Germany, assignors to Hauni-Werke Kcirber & Co. K.G., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Feb. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 86,421 Claims priority, appiication Germany Feb. 4, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) The present invention relates to a device for wrapping a connecting band covered with an adhesive around the joints of a plurality of axially aligned rod-shaped articles, such as tobacco articles, which axially aligned articles or groups of articles are conveyed into engagement with a counter roll surface. Said groups of articles may consist, for instance, of cigarettes and filter bodies.

In the known devices of this type the counter roll surface is stationary, and the most advantageous wrapping around of the connecting bands is obtained with the application of a predetermined small pressure. This pressure is produced by making the distance of the counter roll surface from the surface of the device, which for instance is a roll drum, approximately 0.10 mm. (.004) smaller than the diameter of the group of articles. Still, this small pressure is not very advantageous, because noncircular filters cannot be safety rolled, and a non-desirable displacement of the connecting band and of the filter may occur. If, however, the pressure is increased a secure rolling will be effected, but the filters are apt to be distorted to such an extent that the filter wrapping paper will become wrinkled and as a result, air pockets are formed.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages by making the counter roll surface yieldable under the pressure of the roll.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pressure of the counter roll surface is made controllable. In a simple embodiment of this invention the roll surface is designed in the form of a one-arm lever which is under the influence of a spring which urges the roll surface in a direction opposite to that in which the roll pressure acts.

In order to prevent any action on the group, which is still under the roll surface and is already wrapped to a substantial extent, the roll surface may be divided into a stationary portion and a movable portion, whereby only the movable portion of the roll surface which is arranged in front of the stationary portion is pressed under the action of said control means against the groups of axially aligned rod-shaped articles.

In order to increase the accuracy of the beginning of the rolling operation of the controlled movement of the counter roll surface, a correct positioning of the connecting band is necessary. This is particularly important when only the front end of the connecting band is attached to the group of axially aligned articles and is conveyed in this form to the rolling means.

Another object of the invention is, therefore, to obtain an accurate and secure attachment of the connecting band to the group by providing a device with a transfer conveyor for conveying groups of axially aligned articles and to which is attached the front end of a connecting band to the rolling means. This device comprises supporting means arranged on said transfer conveyor, and which will support the free ends of the connecting bands in the range of guiding means at the periphery of transfer conveyors. This will retain the free ends of the connecting bands in their position and will prevent the curving of the bands in the direction of the transfer conveyor, which curving may be due to the adhesive coating of the connecting bands. In order to further counteract said curving, the arrangement of the roll means with axially disposed grids is such that the acute-angled ends of the guiides of the transfer conveyor will extend very close to transverse webs formed on the roll means. Furthermore, the connecting bands will be forced by air suction in the range of the outer surface of the roll means to curve over said acute-angled ends of said guides in a direction opposite to the curving of said bands which is produced by the tension due to said adhesive coating of said bands.

The drawing illustrates two embodiments of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation view of one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of another embodiment, and shows also a portion of a filter tip cigarette making machine with a transfer conveyor and roll means during a roll operation;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view of the device shown in FIG. 2, but shows the beginning of the roll operation;

FIG. 4 shows the major part of the view shown in FIG. 2 shortly after the start of the roll operation, and

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial sectional view of the transfer drum and its associated guide member along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing, both embodiments of the invention employ as roll means a roll drum, while a transfer drum is provided as a transfer conveyor in the second embodiment of the invention.

In MG. 1 the roll drum 1 is provided on its circumference with axially extending bars 7 extending along the entire length of the roll drum 1. These bars 7 are fastened with theier ends to levers 8 mounted at the end faces of the drum. These levers 8 are attached with their ends opposite the ones attached to the bars 7 to a shaft 9 which moves with the drum 1 and whose axis is parallel to the axis of the roll drum 1. Stationary cam discs 10 are arranged adjacent to the end faces of the roll drum 1. Links 11 are adjustably fastened with one of their ends to the shaft and are provided on their free other ends with guide rollers 12 which are caused to engage said cam discs 10 by tensionv springs 13 which are fastened with one end to said links 11.

In accordance with the present invention a counter roll member 23 having a fiat face 23a is disposed at a predetermined distance away from the circumference of the roll drum 1 and is arranged to be pivotally movable about a stationary pin 24. An adjustable pressure spring 39 engages said counter member 23 and urges the same toward the drum 1. The pressure of said spring 30 isadjustable by a manually adjustable screw 31.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The clockwise rotating roll drum 1 carries the groups of axially aligned articles A together with connecting bands B adhering thereto in to the range of the counter roll surface 23a. The articles A are caused to adhere on the drum v1 by suction which is effective through suction apertures 15]. provided in the wall of the drum and which are in communication with low pressure chambers 1'52 and 153 in the roll drum 1. The counter roll surface 23a was previously adjusted to the diameter of the group A. The necessary pressure by the surface 23a on the group A is maintained by the spring 30 wihch assures that the counter roll surface 23a remains in engagement with the group A.

This arrangement of a yieldable counter roll surface 23a is particularly important in the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the roll drum -1 is provided with the swingable bars 7, because the group of axially aligned articles has to be brought into engagement with the next following bar 7 and has to engage the same with a suitable pressure. The spring is arranged in such a manner that the spring pressure is reduced at the end of the roll operation so that 3 a certain degree of slippage of the group of axially aligned articles is possible. This arrangement dispenses with the necessity of correctly determining the length of the counter roll surface 23a.

The device illustrated in the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is provided with a roll drum 101 which cooperates with a stationary counter roll block 102. A bracket 104 surrounding the outer portion of block 102 is fastened to a projection 103 on the top of the counter roll block 102 by a pivot pin 105. The lower free end 106 of the bracket 104 is bent upwardly and extends approximately parallel to the counter roll surface 107 of the counter roll block 102. The lower free end 106 of the bracket 104 constitutes a movable part of the counter roll surface, the stationary part 107 of which is arranged on the block 102. A ratchet wheel 109 is mounted below an angular bracket 108 attached to the bracket 104. The ratchet wheel 109 is provided with teeth 1:10. A leaf spring 113 is attached to the angular bracket 108 and engages the ratchet wheel 109, and a helical spring 11 1 is arranged between a support 112 and the bracket 108, which latter supports an adjusting screw 114 which urges the leaf spring 113 against the ratchet wheel 109. Bars 115 extend in uniformly spaced relation along the entire periphery of the roll drum 101. The axial length of the bars 115 is equal to the width of the drum 101. The circumferential wall of the drum 101 is provided with apertures 116 for the inward passage of air under the action of a vacuum chamber 117 which extends along a portion of the drum 101 and within the same. The vacuum chamber 117 is connected with a suction line 118. The apertures 116 are of different size. These apertures become progressively smaller, as shown, from the leading end of the connecting bands B towards the trailing end of the same. A transfer drum 119 which is arranged adjacent the roll drum 101 is provided with grooves 120 for supplying the groups G with the connecting bands B attached thereto to the drum 101. The transfer drum 119 is also provided with pins 121 which at the circumference of the transfer drum 119 engage in the range of the trailing ends of the connecting bands B one or more adhesive-free zones of these bands. Stationary guide rails 122 are arranged concentrically to the transfer drum 119 and have acute angled ends 123 arranged close to the bars 115 of the roll drum .101.

The operation of this device is as follows:

The groups G with one end of the connecting bands B attached thereto at the leading ends of the latter are disposed in the axially extending grooves 120 of the rotating transfer drum 119, and are conveyed by this drum 119 to the roll drum 101 and transferred closely adjacent the bars 115 to the roll drum 101. The adhesive coated connecting bands B have the tendency to roll up in the direction of the adhesive coating. The trailing ends of the connecting bands B will be supported at their inner faces by the pins 121 and at their outside will be supported by the guide bars 122. According to FIG. a group G comprising two axially aligned cigarettes Z and Z and a double length filter rod F therebetween is arranged in one of the axially extending grooves 120 of the transfer drum 119. The parts Z Z and F of this entire group are held in position by the stationary guide bars 122 of the guide member 122A. The connecting band B which is attached with its leading end to this group G and is to be wrapped around the group G is held in position by the two innermost guide bars 122. The adhesive-free zone 123 on the connecting band B extends lengthwise of the band B. The trailing end of this zone 123 is engaged by the pin 121 which is attached to the transfer drum 119 and extends radially therefrom. In view of the tendency of the connecting band B to curl away from its adhesive-coated zones 124 and 125, the two outer adhesive-free margins of the band B willengage the innermost guide bars 122. The space between the pins 121 and the two innermost guide bars 122 will prevent any undesirable deviation and wrinkling of the conmeeting bands. In order to further prevent the undesired curving of the connecting bands B, the same are bent in opposite direction during the trmsfer onto the roll drum 101 by sucking the bands B onto the surface of the roll drum 101 by means of the vacuum which is active through the apertures 116. This bending of the bands B in opposite direction (compare FIG. 4) removes any tension in the bands B. The group which was transferred to the roll drum 101 is conveyed to the delivery position until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 3 when it is under the free end 106 of the bracket 104.

When this position is reached, the radial edge 124 of the ratchet wheel 109 will release the leaf spring 113 from the high point of a tooth and the bracket 104 tilts under the action of the spring 111 around the pivot pin 105. The free end 106 of the bracket 104 pushes against the group G and the roll operation starts at the same time.

In the course of the continued rotation of the drum 101 the group G is caused to roll about its own axis and the connecting band B is partially wrapped around the group and reaches the range of the counter roll surface 107 of the stationary counter roll block 102. At the same time a nearly completely wnapped group G is under the counter roll block 102. The leaf spring '113 is returned by the ascending surfaces 125 of the ratchet wheel 109 into its raised starting position. The speeds of rotation of the roll drum 101 and of the transfer drum 119 are the same. The rotary angle of the roll drum 101 for one division or pitch corresponds to the rotary angle of the ratchet wheel 109, namely one tooth per one time unit.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for wrapping a connecting band around axially aligned rod-shaped articles, a rotary drum to the circumference of which is supplied a group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles to which is attached one end of a connecting band in such a manner that said connecting band is placed against the circumference of said drum and extends in circumferential direction of the same and has a leading end to which said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles is attached, means for causing said groups to adhere to the circumference of said drum, a counter roll member arranged in spaced relation from the circumference of said rotary drum and having a counter roll surface for engaging said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles when said group is moved by said rotary drum past said counter roll member, means for pivotally supporting said counter roll member about an axis extending parallel to the axis of said rotary drum, and spring means for yield ably urging said counter roll member toward said drum and causing a rolling of said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles along the circumference of said rotary drum during the rotation of the latter, whereby said connecting band is wrapped around said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles.

2. In a device for wrapping a connecting band around axially aligned rod-shaped articles, a rotary drum to the circumference of which is supplied a group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles to which is attached one end of a connecting band in such a manner that said connecting band is placed against the circumference of said drum and extends in circumferential direction of the same and has a leading end to which said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles is attached, means for causing said groups to adhere to the circumference of said drum, a counter roll member arranged in spaced relation from the circumference of said rotary drum and having a counter roll surface for engaging said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles when said group is moved by said rotary drum past said counter roll member, means for pivotally supporting one end of said counter roll member about a fixed axis extending parallel to the axis of said rotary drum, and spring means for yieldably urging said counter roll member toward said drum and causing a rolling of said group of axially aligned rodshaped articles along the circumference of said rotary drum during the rotation of the latter, whereby said connecting band is wrapped around said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles, said spring means being arnanged in such a manner that the pressure acting on said group is gradually reduced toward the end of the wrapping operation.

3. In a device for wrapping a connecting band around axially aligned rod-shaped articles, a rotary drum to the circumference of which is supplied a group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles to which is attached one end of a connecting band in such a manner that said connecting band is placed against the circumference of said drum and extends in circumferential direction of the same and has a leading end to which said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles is attached, means for causing said groups to adhere to the circumference of said drum, a counter roll member arranged in spaced relation from the circumference of said rotary drum and having a counter roll surface for engaging said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles when said group is moved by said rotary drum past said counter roll member, means for pivotally supporting one end of said counter roll member about a fixed axis extending parallel to the axis of said rotary drum, and adjustable spring means for yieldably urging said counter roll member toward said drum and causing a rolling of said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles along the circumference of said rotary drum during the rotation of the latter, whereby said connecting band is wrapped around said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles, said spring means being arranged in such a manner that the pressure acting on said group is gradually reduced toward the end of the wrapping operation.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said counter roll member is formed as a one-arm lever.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which said counter roll member is divided into a stationary part and a movable part, and that only the movable part which forms the leading end of the counter roll member is movable into yielding engagement with said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles.

6. A device according to claim 1, in which said counter roll member is divided into a stationary part and a movable part, and that only the movable part which forms the leading end of the counter roll member is movable into yielding engagement with said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles, said movable part of the counter roll member is formed as a one-arm lever which is urged by said spring means toward said rotary drum.

7. A device according to claim 1, including a transfer conveyor provided with a groove for conveying said group of axially aligned rod-shaped articles with the connecting band attached thereto to said rotary drum, supporting means on said transfer conveyor spaced from said groove therein for supporting the free end of the connecting band in spaced relation from said conveyor, and a guide extending along the surface of the transfer conveyor and spaced therefrom for supporting said group in said groove.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which the supporting means is formed by a pin.

9. A device according to claim 7, including axially extending bars arranged on the circumference of the rotary drum, said guide comprising guide bars extending along the surface of the transfer conveyor, said guide bars being provided with a pointed angle at one end which extends close to the bars on the rotary drum, and means causing the connecting bands to adhere by suction to the surface of the rotary drum in a direction opposite to that of the tension in the connecting bands due to an adhesive coating thereon.

10. A device according to claim 7, in which the transfer conveyor is a rotary drum provided on its circumference with uniformly spaced grooves.

References Cit-ed in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,998 Edwards Feb. 6, 1940 2,786,472 Creuzburg Mar. 26, 1957 2,855,938 Stelzer Oct. 14, 1958 2,952,105 Schur Sept. 13, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 329,027 Switzerland May 31, 1958 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR WRAPPING A CONNECTING BAND AROUND AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES, A ROTARY DRUM TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF WHICH IS SUPPLIED A GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES TO WHICH IS ATTACHED ONE END OF A CONNECTING BAND IN SUCH A MANNER THAT SAID CONNECTING BAND IS PLACED AGAINST THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID DRUM AND EXTENDS IN CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIRECTION OF THE SAME AND HAS A LEADING END TO WHICH SAID GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES IS ATTACHED, MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID GROUPS TO ADHERE TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID DRUM, A COUNTER ROLL MEMBER ARRANGED IN SPACED RELATION FROM THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID ROTARY DRUM AND HAVING A COUNTER ROLL SURFACE FOR ENGAGING SAID GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES WHEN SAID GROUP IS MOVED BY SAID ROTARY DRUM PAST SAID COUNTER ROLL MEMBER, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID COUNTER ROLL MEMBER ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID ROTARY DRUM, AND SPRING MEANS FOR YIELDABLY URGING SAID COUNTER ROLL MEMBER TOWARD SAID DRUM AND CAUSING A ROLLING OF SAID GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES ALONG THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID ROTARY DRUM DURING THE ROTATION OF THE LATTER, WHEREBY SAID CONNECTING BAND IS WRAPPED AROUND SAID GROUP OF AXIALLY ALIGNED ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES. 